Video poker game with discard play method

ABSTRACT

A monitor screen is provided on which playing card symbols may be provided for use in video wagering games. The player makes a wager to play a draw poker game and an initial dealt hand is displayed. The player may choose to hold none, one or up to all of the cards in the dealt hand, with the remaining cards being designated as discards. The player is then given the choice to either (a) eliminate the discards or (b) pay an additional fee to save the discards as a partial dealt hand in a subsequent game. The additional fee may be a flat fee, or it may be variable as determined by the makeup of the discards. In either case (a or b), replacement cards are added to the held cards to form a final hand, and the final hand is evaluated for wins against a predetermined paytable.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This Application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/920,369, filed 27 Mar. 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electronic poker games suitable for use in casinos, on-line and in other gaming enterprises. The invention further relates to video draw poker games in which an additional wager may be placed to keep cards that would normally be discarded from a first game hand, and subsequently utilize those normally discarded cards as a partial dealt hand in the next game.

2. Background of the Art

Poker-based games have long been a traditional staple of gaming establishments. In recent years there has been a renewed interest in casino poker table games, as well as a surge in the popularity of video poker gaming. While the live table versions attract players who enjoy competing against other players, the video versions usually draw an audience of players who prefer to play individually against the machine.

Machine manufacturers are constantly striving to capture the video poker player's attention with unique products and features that will initially attract and then keep the player at the machine. More time on the machine equates to larger profits for the casinos; since the casino has a percentage advantage on virtually every game, as more games are played, the casino's profits grow.

Advances in technology combined with the casino patrons' expectations have resulted in a burgeoning variety of video poker gaming products. Some of the most exciting gameplay features for the video poker player enable the player to make choices that can affect the game's outcome. Although the player may use decision-making techniques, the games are still random events with random outcomes. This ability to strategize allows video poker players to improve their overall win/loss percentages by using optimum play choices, especially during the hold/draw stage.

In a typical video draw poker game, the player places a wager on an underlying poker game and is dealt a 5-card hand from a 52-card deck (or more cards if jokers, wild cards or special cards are utilized). The player then chooses to hold none, one or up to all of the cards, with the unheld cards being discarded. Replacement cards from the depleted deck are then provided for the discards, and this final hand is then evaluated for wins against a predetermined paytable.

Previous art has attempted to provide additional decision-making elements to this basic draw poker gameplay in different and exciting ways while at the same time encouraging multiple or larger wagers.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,397 (Moody, et al.) discloses a method that involves dealing the player a starting hand of cards, such as five cards, and the player then plays this hand with a first pay table. If the player's starting hand of cards has a poker hand ranking of any preselected combination of cards, such as a Three-of-a-Kind, the player is given the option of buying a second hand of cards identical to the first hand of cards which is accomplished by making another wager. The player then plays out both the first hand and the second hand by discarding and drawing replacement cards. The final first hand and the final second hand are then compared to the pay table to determine winning and losing combinations based on poker hand ranking.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,624 (Gold, et al.) describes a poker-style game and method in which a player who is one card away from achieving a royal flush, following receipt of a first set of replacement cards, is provided the option to receive an additional card for no additional wager.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,456 (Walker, et al.) describes a method for operating a video poker machine which includes the steps of populating a primary poker hand with a plurality of playing cards, identifying discard cards to be discarded from the populated primary poker hand, and automatically populating a secondary poker hand with the discard cards. The primary poker hand is then populated to replace the discard cards discarded therefrom, thereby forming a final primary poker hand, and a payout is determined based at least upon the playing cards in the final primary poker hand. An additional wager is not required to populate the secondary poker hand with the discard cards, and a bonus amount based on a separate paytable may be awarded for qualifying secondary hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,014 (Walker, et al.) discloses an electronic gaming device and method for operating the same. According to one aspect of the invention, the device is a video poker machine that displays an initial hand of cards to a player. The player considers the initial hand and executes a game strategy by selecting certain of the cards to hold and others to discard, if any. A player's selection of cards causes a signal to be received by the device. The signal indicates which of the of the cards in the initial hand are to be held and which are to be discarded. Based on the signal, the device determines a number of cards to be drawn. For each discard card, the device displays an additional draw card in place thereof and determines a payout based on a ranking of the final hand and the number of cards drawn.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,407 (Carrico, et al.) discusses a multi-draw poker game which is played in a manner somewhat similar to traditional five card draw poker, but in which a player is given the opportunity to make additional wagers and additional draws.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,129 (Cooper, et al.) describes an electronic video poker gaming machine, in which an initial five card hand is dealt and displayed to a player. The player selects which cards to hold and the unheld cards are discarded. Replacement cards are dealt to the player and the poker hand ranking of the final five card hand is determined. If the player has achieved a losing hand, the player is offered the opportunity to replay the initial five card hand. The player may hold the same or different cards when he replays the initial five card hand. The remaining cards are reshuffled and new replacement cards are dealt to the player. Winning hands are paid. The player must make a separate wager each time the player wishes to replay the initial five card hand. In one version, the player is only offered the opportunity to replay the initial five card hand if the player has a losing hand on the first play of the hand. In another version, the player is offered the chance to replay the initial five card hand regardless of whether the player wins or loses on the first play of the hand. The number of replays offered to the player for any particular initial five-card hand can vary. In yet another version, the player is randomly offered an opportunity to replay a hand.

United States Patent Application Number 20060258423 (Englman, et al.) discloses a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine. The method comprises receiving a wager from a player to play the game and displaying a plurality of cards from a deck of cards to form a user-playable hand. The method further comprises selecting, via player selection, one or more of the plurality of cards to discard and replacing each of the discarded cards with another card to form a final user-playable hand. The method further comprises initiating a cascade event in response to the final user-playable hand resulting in a winning hand being formed. The cascade event includes (i) removing winning cards from the winning hand of the final user-playable hand, and (ii) replacing the removed winning cards with other cards to form a first cascade hand.

United States Patent Application Number 20060211468 (Flint, et al.) describes a gaming system for playing a video poker game that includes a wager-input device, a display, and a controller. The wager-input receives a wager input from a player to purchase a plurality of poker hands, wherein the poker hands include a first hand and a second hand. The display displays a plurality of first cards as a first played hand of the first hand. The controller is coupled to the display and is programmed to create the second hand initially consisting of the plurality of first cards, if the first played hand is a predetermined ranked winning card combination. The controller is further programmed to allow the player to create a second played hand of the second hand. The second played hand includes at least one player-selected card of the first cards and at least one randomly selected card from a deck of cards.

United States Patent Application Number 20060025190 (Kraft, et al.) discloses a gaming system and associated methods utilizing continued component distribution, such as in poker or keno, until certain criteria are met in order to provide the potential to receive more than a standard number of game components for increased gaming suspense. In playing a game on the system, a predetermined quantity of game components are selected for distribution to a player. If certain criteria are not met, additional game components are distributed to the player until the criteria are met or until a maximum total number of game components are distributed. The distributed game components enable the player to achieve a payment or other award in accordance with the rules of play of the game being played.

United States Patent Application Number 20050130727 (Cebulko, et al.) describes a game method for providing a mid-game wager for a base game that includes designating at least one intermediate game point and at least one qualifying intermediate holding corresponding to at least one qualifying final result. Players optionally place a base game wager and initiate the base game. The base game is played until an intermediate game point is reached. A player holding a qualifying intermediate holding at the intermediate game point may place an optional mid-game wager. The base game is played to completion. Players with a final holding that is a qualifying final result are rewarded based on the mid-game wager. A multiple hand embodiment of the game method is also disclosed in which a separate hand may be conducted for each qualifying final result corresponding to a qualifying intermediate holding at an intermediate game point.

United States Patent Application Number 20040176155 (Gold, et al.) discloses a video poker-style game and method in which a player is provided the option of placing wagers on certain selected winning hands. In one embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand before play begins. In another embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand before play begins and not provided the option of discarding and drawing replacement cards. In still another embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand after the initial hand is dealt. In yet another embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand after the initial hand is dealt and after the player has selected which cards to discard or to hold. In a further embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand before play begins and is provided a similar option after the initial hand is dealt. In a still further embodiment, a player is provided the option of placing at least one wager on obtaining at least one selected winning hand before play begins and is provided a similar option after the initial hand is dealt and after the player has selected which cards to discard or to hold. The jackpot payable for achievement of a winning hand that has been wagered upon can be determined from a fixed payout table or from a progressive payout table.

United States Patent Application Number 20030060276 (Walker, et al.) discloses a method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of generating a first outcome of a game of chance, determining a target outcome, receiving a first wager, generating a second outcome based on the first outcome, and repeating the step of generating the second outcome until the second outcome matches the target outcome, before receiving any second wager.

It is an objective of this invention to provide players with new and enticing features that will stimulate player interest and increase time on the machine. In particular, the present invention allows the player to make an additional wager to keep discards from one game and utilize the said discards in the next game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A monitor screen is provided on which playing card symbols may be provided for use in electronic video wagering games at casinos, on-line or in hand-held devices. The player makes a wager to play in an underlying draw poker game and an initial or partial hand is dealt and displayed. The player views the initial or partial hand and may choose to hold none, one or up to all of the cards in the dealt hand, with the remaining cards being designated as discards. The player is then given the choice to either (a) eliminate the discards from play and availability in replacements or (b) pay an additional fee to save the discards as a partial dealt hand in a subsequent game or a parallel game (with or without additional wagering). In either case (a or b), replacement cards are added to the held cards to form a final hand(s), and the final hand(s) is (are) evaluated for wins against one or more predetermined paytables. Any additional fee in (b) may be a flat fee, or it may be variable as determined by the makeup of the discards. A fee may be avoided by adjustment of pay scales on the paytable(s) to adjust for the existence of multiple hands. There may or may not be a maximum number of consecutive times that the discard bet may be played. If the discard option has been utilized, the discards are preferably kept in reserve to be a partial dealt hand in a subsequent game or in a parallel hand. When the player wagers to play the next game, newly dealt cards are added to the partial dealt hand to complete the dealt hand and in a parallel game, additional cards are dealt to both the retained cards hand and the discards hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a monitor screen of a video poker machine at rest, displaying the gameplay elements used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first game being initiated.

FIG. 3 shows the same first game at a later stage.

FIG. 4 shows the same first game at a later stage.

FIG. 5 shows the same first game at a later stage.

FIG. 6 shows the same first game at a final stage.

FIG. 7 shows a second game being initiated.

FIG. 8 shows the same second game at a later stage.

FIG. 9 shows the same second game at a later stage.

FIG. 10 shows the same second game at a final stage.

FIG. 11 shows a third game being initiated.

FIG. 12 shows the same third game at a later stage.

FIG. 13 shows the same third game at a final stage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A monitor screen and game processor are provided. Playing card symbols are provided for view to the player for use in electronic and video wagering games, electronic video poker and poker variant games and in particular video draw poker games. The player makes a wager to play a game, such as a typical (e.g., five-card) draw poker game against a paytable and/or a dealer and/or other players and an initial dealt hand is displayed for the player to control. The player may choose to hold none, one or up to all of the cards in the dealt hand, with the remaining cards being designated as discards. The player is then given the choice to either (a) eliminate the discards from further play, (b) pay an additional fee to save the discards as a partial dealt hand in a subsequent game, or (c) keep the cards as a contemporaneously played parallel hand. In either case (a or b or c), replacement cards are added to the held cards to form a final hand(s), and the final hand(s) are evaluated for wins against a predetermined paytable and/or against dealer/player hands. Any additional fee in (b) may be a flat fee, or it may be variable as determined by the makeup of the discards. For example, a flat fee may be an additional predetermined wager of X amount of credits (1 credit, 5 credits, 10 credits or the like). If the fee is variable, the fee may be based on the highest determined or potential rank of the discards. For example, if there are three discards consisting of a pair and an additional card, the pair is the highest rank, and the fee to save the three discards may be 4 credits. If there are four discards consisting of 4-to-a-Royal Flush or straight flush, the fee may be 10 to 100 credits.

There may or may not be a maximum number of consecutive times that the discard bet may be played. This said maximum number may be predetermined for any one array of discards, or may be based on the specific configuration of the discards. For example, there may be a predetermined maximum limit of 8 consecutive times that any discard bet may be placed for any same discard array (i.e., the 5 of Hearts, the 6 of Hearts and the 7 of Hearts). To illustrate the said maximum number being based on the specific configuration of the discards, the player may have to pay an additional bet of 4 credits to save four discards consisting of 2 Pairs, and predetermined rules may allow the bet on this particular array to be played a maximum of 8 consecutive times. However, the player may have to pay an additional bet of 7 credits to save three discards consisting of 3-of-a-Kind, and predetermined rules may allow the bet on this particular array to be played a maximum of 15 consecutive times. If the discard option has been utilized, the discards are kept in reserve to be a partial dealt hand in next game. When the player wagers to play the next game, the additional “save the discards” fee is added to the said wager, and newly dealt cards are added to the partial dealt hand to complete the dealt hand.

In one alternative format, the player may elect (with or without additional fees) to keep both sets (retained card set and discard set) as playable hands in a single round of play, with each set individually receiving replacement or additional cards to complete the sets into parallel hands. The parallel hands may be played with the same paytables as an original hand would be played (with or without an additional payment), may be played with individual and different paytables (the retained hand having one scale and the discard set having a separate pay scale, with or without an additional payment) or may be paid with a single pay scale at reduced rates from an original paytable (with or without an additional payment). An adjustment in pay scales in the paytables may be desirable to simplify play, with or without additional fees, to balance out the fact that two hands can be selected for play or automatically result in play with retained and discarded sets of cards. For example, if an initial hand of A

, A♡t, J

, 10

, 9

were dealt to a player, traditional play would have the player keep either the pair of aces (ordinarily a guaranteed winning hand) or to try for the straight flush. As play of the present game would allow for a player to keep both sets as partial hands (e.g., retained cards of A

, A♡, and discarded set of J

, 10

, 9

the percentages change in the player's favor. The pay scales may change to assure a casino or house retention rate (e.g., by eliminating 2:1 for two pairs or by eliminating 1:1 on retained pairs). For one or more of the parallel hands, an original or first reduced paytable may be provided and for the other hand a same, higher or lower rate paytable may be provided. A higher rate paytable might be available (with or without an additional fee) if the higher rate paytable were available for only a lower or the lower probability winning hand from one of the two sets of cards, or only when probability for a winning event is below a fixed percentage. This additional table selection might be used in conjunction with the technology described in copending Published US Patent Application No. 20070054721, which is incorporated herein by reference. Using aspects of that incorporated technology, different percentages may be displayed, hands apportioned to present play, future play or parallel play according to assisted decisions from the probability displays from the processor. Additionally different rank paytables may be provided (automatically, by selection, with or without additional fees) based on these determined and/or displayed probabilities.

In an alternate method, the player wagers to play an electronic draw poker game, and receives the initial dealt cards. The player may choose to hold none, one, some, up to all of the dealt cards, and locks in his choice by pressing Draw. The unheld cards or “discards” are automatically saved in reserve, removed from the dealt hand and displayed in a separate area on the monitor screen. Replacement cards are provided to the draw hand, and a final hand is shown. This said final hand is evaluated for wins against a predetermined paytable, and any award amounts are provided to the player. The player may then choose to wager on a next game of draw poker. The player may choose to either utilize the discards from the previous game (as shown in the said separate area on the monitor screen), or choose to be dealt all new deal cards without the discards. Utilizing the discards may require an additional fee, the fee being either a flat fee or a fee based on the make-up of the discards. If the player chooses to utilize the discards, the discards are automatically returned to the deal hand, the said deal hand is then populated with additional cards from a depleted deck (the full deck minus the discards), and the deal hand is completed. Play continues with the player choosing to hold none up to all of the deal cards, and resuming play as above.

Whether the discard bet is based on a sliding scale (automatically because of multiple hands being available or due to the makeup of the discards) or on a flat fee basis, the fee may be paid or deducted from the player's total credits either (a) immediately upon choosing to hold the discards (and before receiving replacement cards to the draw hand), (b) as an addition to the next game's wager, (c) simultaneously with the initial wager, or (d) withdrawn from winnings or by using reduced pay scales.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the player wagers to play a poker game, usually against a paytable only, or in any combination of against a paytable, against a dealer or against other players. A preferred embodiment is with a 5-card draw poker game, preferably wagering 5 credits or multiples thereof to play the one hand. An initial 5-card array (initial hand or partial hand) is dealt from, for example, one or more standard decks of 52 playing cards (although more cards such as jokers, wild cards or special cards may be added for the play of particular versions such as Joker Poker) into an initial card area display on the monitor screen. The player may choose to hold none, one, or up to all of the cards. The held cards are transferred to or retained in a separate final hand area display on the monitor screen, with the unheld cards or “discards” being repositioned in a new area or remaining in the initial card area. Before replacement cards are added to the final hand, the player is offered a choice in continuing further play. The player may choose to eliminate the discards, removing them from the initial card area display and from further play, or choose to pay an additional wager to keep the discards in the initial card area display, or choose to play multiple hands with reduced pay scales. If the player chooses to keep the discards, the said discards will become a partial dealt hand for the next game or a parallel contemporaneous game, and the additional wager will be added to the wager for the next hand or in the present contemporaneous game hand. Preferably the additional wager is based on the makeup of the discards themselves. A sliding scale of fees is provided, based on the potential value of the discards. Only the highest value is considered. A sample fee table is provided below.

PAY TO KEEP: (additional fee:) 4-to-a-Royal 100 4-to-a-StrFlush 14 3-of-a-Kind 7 4-to-a-Flush 7 2 Pair 4 4-to-a-Straight 3 Pair 3 3-to-a-StrFlush 3 3-to-a-Flush 2 3-to-a-Straight 2 Single or Mixed 1 No additional fee would be needed if one or more (initial, first retained set and second discard set paytable) reduced pay scale paytables are provided.

For instance, the fee for an array of discards that includes only one high card may be 1 credit; the fee for an array of discards that includes 4-to-a-Royal Flush may be 10-100 credits. A chart or information box on the monitor screen may list all of the discard possibilities, and highlight the correct one for any particular array of discards. The player's choice to either eliminate or keep the discards is indicated by pressing a physical button on the machine, touching a button on the screen, or by any other means that accomplishes the indication. Whether the player chooses to eliminate the discards or keep the discards, replacement cards are added to the held cards in the separate final hand area display, forming a final hand. This said final hand is then evaluated for pays against a predetermined paytable, and any wins are awarded the player. If the player chose to keep the discards, the next game would be dealt from a depleted deck of 52 cards, minus the discards. The player makes a wager to play the next game, and the discard fee from the previous game is added to the wager. New deal cards are added to the discards, and a 5-card deal hand is shown. Play continues as above. In the event that hands are played contemporaneously, cards would be provided separately to each hand with a common or separate paytables.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the method is executed as in the first embodiment, except that the fee to play the discard option is not based on the makeup of the discard array nor is it based on a sliding scale. Instead, the fee is an additional flat wager to keep any discard array, preferably wagered after the discard array is shown, and added to the next game's wager. An alternate method may require the additional wager to be made as a “Side Bet” at the same time of the initial game wager, and before the deal of any cards. Again, there may be a variety of paytables available for each event (first hand only and for two hands being played at the same time).

In a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, only one player hand area is shown on the monitor screen, and after the dealt cards in a first game are revealed and the player makes his hold choices, the discards are automatically saved to a separate area of the monitor screen. After the first game is over, the player is given the choice to utilize the discards as a partial dealt hand in the next game, preferably with an additional fee to the normal wager to utilize the discards.

All embodiments above may include a predetermined maximum number of consecutive times that the discard option may be performed and in which a hand may be repeatedly played (e.g., retaining four cards to a royal flush). Paytables may be varied as a particular set of cards is played and replayed, for example reducing payout for a royal flush from 1000:1, to 900:1 to 800:1 to 500:1 for each play. The remainder deck from which cards are provided may also be retained (for a fee) to increase likelihood of a winning event (even at reduced payout).

A general description of the present invention may be as a method of playing an electronic poker game. A player places at least a first wager to play in the electronic poker game. The player receives an initial first set of playing cards. The player elects to keep all, some or none of the initial first set of playing cards as a Play hand and to respectively discard none, some or all of the initial set of playing cards into a discard partial hand. The player receives replacement or completing cards as needed for the Play hand and retaining the discard hand for available play as a separate hand to receive additional or completing cards to for a discard partial hand. The at least first wager is resolved, usually against a paytable, but potentially also against a dealer hand or player hands. The discard partial hand may be played contemporaneously with the Play hand or the discard partial hand is retained by the player and used in a subsequent play of the electronic poker game. The player may have to make an additional wager to enable retention of the discard partial hand. The Play hand may be shown in one area of a display screen and the partial discard hand may be shown in another area of the display screen. The additional wager may be a fixed number of credits or a player selectable number of credits between a range of allowable wagers. The amount for the additional wager may be dependent upon potential maximum payout on a best completed hand from the partial discard hand, as where the additional wager for at least one potential maximum payout is higher than the additional wager for a partial discard hand with a lower another potential maximum payout. The partial discard hand may be retained for use in more than one subsequent play of the electronic poker game. An electronic apparatus for playing an electronic wagering video game comprises a display screen and a processor containing game rules and a random number generator for enabling play of the method described herein.

Reference to the Figures will assist in further understanding of the practice of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a video poker machine monitor screen 2 with an initial card area 4 for five standard playing cards (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) and a final card area 16 for five standard playing cards (18, 20, 22, 24, 26). Five corresponding touchscreen HOLD buttons (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) are shown below the initial card area 4. Also shown are touchscreen/display wagering option buttons for the Credits Bet per Hand 38, Credits Bet for Discard Option 40, Total Bet 42, Credits Won 44 and the player's Total Credits 46. Here the player is shown having 400 Total Credits 46. A Play the Discard/Draw button 50 and a New Deal/Draw button 52 are shown on the monitor screen 2, as well as an area for displaying the Number of Extra Credits Needed for the Discard Bet 56.

FIG. 2 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 1 with the display of the wagering option buttons showing the Credits Bet per Hand 60 as 5, for a Total Bet 62 of 5 Credits. The player's Total Credits 64 after the wager is shown, with 395 credits still being available. The New Deal/Draw button 66 is pressed, which triggers the initial deal of 5 cards (70, 72, 74, 76, 78) from a first deck of 52 standard playing cards into the initial card area 4.

FIG. 3 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 2 with the player's choice to hold three cards being highlighted (80, 82, 84). The three held cards (86, 88, 90) are shown transferred from the initial card area 4 into the final hand area 16. Three individual initial card areas (92, 94, 96) are now shown as blank.

FIG. 4 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 3 with a pop-up message 100 displayed on the monitor screen 2, explaining the Play the Discard Option. Since the discards (70, 78) in the initial hand area 4 form a Pair, the “Pair . . . 3 Credits” 102 is highlighted in the Number of Extra Credits Needed for the Discard Bet display 56.

FIG. 5 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 4 with the player choosing the Play the Discard/Draw Option 104. The player hopes to capitalize on the Pair in the next game, hopefully to get dealt the two other 4s. The Discard Bet is now displayed in the Discard Bet box 106, showing that an additional 3 Credits will be bet in the next game.

FIG. 6 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 5 with two draw cards (108, 110) being added to the final hand area. The final hand (110, 86, 88, 90, 112) is evaluated as 3-of-a-Kind 112, and the Win is shown. The Credits Won is displayed as 15 114, bringing the Total Credits 116 to 410.

FIG. 7 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 6 and shows the beginning of the next game's play with the player choosing New Deal/Draw 120. The display of the wagering option buttons shows the Credits Bet per Hand 122 as 5, and the Discard Bet 124 as 3, for a Total Bet 126 of 8 Credits. The Credits Won 44 is now shown as blank, as in FIG. 1. The player's Total Credits 128 after the wager is shown, with 402 credits still being available. The New Deal/Draw button 120 is pressed, which triggers the initial deal of three cards (130, 132, 134) from a depleted deck of 50 standard playing cards (52 cards minus the Pair of 4s) into the initial card area 4. The final hand area 16 is again empty (18, 20, 22, 24, 26), and the Hold buttons (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) and the Play the Discard/Draw button 50 are disengaged, as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 7 with the player changing his strategy and his choice to hold only one card being highlighted 140. Instead of going for the 4-of-a-Kind, the player now wishes to go for a Straight Flush in the next game (and perhaps again and again, until the Straight Flush is finally accomplished). The held card 142 is shown transferred from the initial card area 4 into the final hand area 16. One individual initial card area 144 is now shown as blank.

FIG. 9 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 8 with the pop-up message 100 displayed on the monitor screen 2, explaining the Play the Discard Option. Since the discards (70, 130, 132, 134) in the initial hand area 4 form 4-to-a-Straight Flush, the “4-to-a-Straight Flush . . . 14 Credits” 150 is highlighted in the Number of Extra Credits Needed for the Discard Bet display 56. The player is now shown choosing the Play the Discard/Draw Option 152. The player hopes to capitalize on the 4-to-a-Straight Flush in the next game. The Discard Bet is now displayed in the Discard Bet box 154, showing that an additional 14 Credits will be bet in the next game.

FIG. 10 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 9 with four draw cards (160, 162, 164, 166) being added to the final hand area. The final hand (160, 162, 164, 166, 142) is evaluated and is shown to be a No Win 168, and the game is over.

FIG. 11 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 10 and shows the beginning of the next game's play with the player choosing New Deal/Draw 170. The display of the wagering option buttons shows the Credits Bet per Hand 172 as 5, and the Discard Bet 174 as 14, for a Total Bet 176 of 19 Credits. The Credits Won 44 is now shown as blank, as in FIG. 1. The player's Total Credits 178 after the wager is shown, with 383 credits still being available. The New Deal/Draw button 170 is pressed, which triggers the initial deal of one card 180 from a depleted deck of 48 standard playing cards (52 cards minus the 4-to-a-Straight Flush) into the initial card area 4, forming a Flush hand. The final hand area 16 is again empty (18, 20, 22, 24, 26), and the Hold buttons (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) and the Play the Discard/Draw button 50 are disengaged, as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 11 with the player changing his strategy once again and his choice to hold all five card being highlighted (190, 192, 194, 196, 198). Instead of going for the Straight Flush in the next game (and perhaps again and again, until the Straight Flush is finally accomplished), the player decides to play it safe and keep the Flush. The player presses New Deal/Draw 188 to lock in his choice. The held cards (200, 202, 204, 206, 208) are shown transferred from the initial card area 4, which is now blank (210, 212, 214, 216, 218). Since the are no discards, no Discard Bet Option is shown.

FIG. 13 refers to the game elements shown in FIG. 12 with the final hand (200, 202, 204, 206, 208) being evaluated as a Flush, and the Win message 220 is shown. The Credits Won is displayed as 30 222, bringing the Total Credits 224 to 413.

Although specific examples and specific images have been provided in this discussion, these specifics are intended to be only support for the generic concepts of the invention and are not intended to be absolute limits in the scope of the technology discussed. These descriptions are intended to be general, enabling and illustrative, and the specific features described are not intended to narrowly limit the scope of the invention which is described. Those skilled in the art will recognize the alternatives that can be used within the scope described. 

1. A method of playing an electronic poker game comprising: a player placing at least a first wager to play in the electronic poker game; the player receiving an initial first set of playing cards; the player electing to keep all, some or none of the initial first set of playing cards as a Play hand and to respectively discard none, some or all of the initial set of playing cards into a discard partial hand; the player receiving replacement or completing cards as needed for the Play hand and retaining the discard hand for available play as a separate hand to receive additional or completing cards to for a discard partial hand; and resolving the at least first wager.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the discard partial hand is played contemporaneously with the Play hand.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the discard partial hand is retained by the player and used in a subsequent play of the electronic poker game.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the player must make an additional wager to enable retention of the discard partial hand.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the Play hand is shown in one area of a display screen and the partial discard hand is shown in another area of the display screen.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the additional wager is a fixed number of credits.
 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the additional wager is a player selectable number of credits between a range of allowable wagers.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein an amount for the additional wager is dependent upon potential maximum payout on a best completed hand from the partial discard hand.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the additional wager for at least one potential maximum payout is higher than the additional wager for a partial discard hand with a lower another potential maximum payout.
 10. The method of claim 4 wherein the partial discard hand may be retained for use in more than one subsequent play of the electronic poker game.
 11. The method of claim 5 wherein the partial discard hand may be retained for use in more than one subsequent play of the electronic poker game.
 12. An electronic apparatus for playing an electronic wagering video game comprising a display screen and a processor containing game rules and a random number generator for enabling play of the method of claim
 1. 13. An electronic apparatus for playing an electronic wagering video game comprising a display screen and a processor containing game rules and a random number generator for enabling play of the method of claim
 3. 14. An electronic apparatus for playing an electronic wagering video game comprising a display screen and a processor containing game rules and a random number generator for enabling play of the method of claim
 4. 